Thru the Lens: The Reichstag in Berlin
The Reichstag in Berlin has a long and tumultuous history. The massive building was completed in the late 1800s, heavily damaged by fire in 1933, and was abandoned until the Berlin Wall came down and Germany was reunited in 1990. That year, Lord Norman Foster was commissioned to do a full restoration of the building. Upon completion, the German Parliament (Bundestag) moved into their swank new headquarters, complete with a steel and glass dome.
These days, the building is a major attraction in Berlin. Visitors can go on guided tours of the building and go up to the top of the dome for unobstructed views of the city. And the best part, it’s all FREE! But you do need to book in advance via their website: http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/visits/kupp.html
The view from atop the Reichstag
The Dome
Hauptbahnhof (Central Train Station), from atop the building
I wonder what’s being built?
Inside the glass dome
Gently sloping walkways lead to the top of the dome.
Potsdamer Platz, from atop the Reichstag
The Brandenburg Gate, from atop the Reichstag
The front of the Reichstag